Indian Farmers’ Union officials and farmers associated with the BKU (Platform) held meetings in Asgarpur, Ghijhore, Nithari and other villages to finalise the strategy for Wednesday’s indefinite sit-in at the gate of the Noida Authority.
National president Vimal Tyagi warned officials that farmers from 81 villages will stage a protest and lock down the Authority office. The agitation, he said, will not be limited to the Authority; they will also directly question every officer responsible. This time, the offices of elected representatives will also be picketed and locked. Tyagi recalled that earlier, elected leaders had intervened and brokered an agreement, promising to take the farmers’ grievances from Lucknow to Delhi, yet nothing has materialised.
Spokesperson Sudhir Chauhan said the proposed amendments were approved by the Authority’s board and sent to Lucknow; they must now be sanctioned by the state Cabinet. Farmers will no longer end their strike or return home on hollow promises. National secretary Rinku Yadav declared that farmers have been exploited for 48 years, but this will stop now. A massive protest will be staged to secure their rights. He gave a final warning: if the pending issues are not resolved by 30 July, the entire Authority complex will be completely sealed.
Among those present were Mesi Yadav, Ravi Pradhan, Vikram Yadav, Pramod Tyagi, Tej Singh, Rajvir Chauhan, DP Chauhan and Suresh Yadav.